A large-scale search operation is underway in the dense forests of Basantgarh in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district to track down three Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists, a day after a Pakistani terrorist was killed in an intense gunfight with security forces.
The operation, led jointly by the Indian Army’s Para Commandos and local police, resumed early Friday morning with drone surveillance and sniffer dog units enhancing the combing efforts. The area remains under heavy cordon as additional forces have been deployed to neutralize the remaining terrorists suspected to be hiding in the Karoor Nallah area.
The encounter began on Thursday when a joint patrol confronted four heavily armed terrorists following a year-long tracking effort. The militants, supported by local overground workers (OGWs), had been using forest cover and natural caves to evade capture. One of the slain terrorists has been identified as Haider, alias Maulvi, a Pakistan-based JeM operative.
Officials have confirmed that five OGWs who provided logistical support to the group have been arrested in recent months. Intelligence inputs also suggest a local returnee from Pakistan may be actively aiding the group in its movements.
Basantgarh, known for its challenging terrain, lies along a known infiltration corridor used by Pakistan-backed militants to enter the region from the International Border in Kathua, moving through high-altitude routes toward Doda, Kishtwar, and the Kashmir Valley.
The area has been the site of several high-profile terror incidents in the past year. In April, Havaldar Jhantu Ali Shaikh of 6 PARA was martyred in an encounter. Previous incidents in 2024 included attacks on security forces and the killing of a village defence guard, with multiple JeM operatives eliminated in separate operations.
Security agencies remain on high alert as the search for the remaining three terrorists continues in the forested belt of Basantgarh, with authorities committed to restoring peace and preventing further infiltration in the region.
